About Us

With roots dating back to 1979, the Sacramento Historic Sites Association provided programming and special event support to the State Indian Museum State Historic Park, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, and the Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park. It also operated retail stores inside each of these sites in Sacramento.

By 2009, the State Indian Museum realized the need for additional educational events and programming, while California State Parks called for an active, Native-based association in support of the future California Indian Heritage Center—and the 501 (c) (3) non-profit

California Indian Heritage Center Foundation was born!

Since that time, the museum has experienced tremendous growth, in terms of exposure, visitor numbers, and Native community involvement. The California Indian Heritage Center Foundation has kept pace- and facilitated this growth with funding for a multitude of Native-oriented special events, a Native Education for All lecture series, a variety of cultural workshops, and community outreach.

The Foundation is pleased to maintain and operate the retail store located inside the museum, which boasts beautiful and reasonable Native-made jewelry, arts & crafts, a variety of unique gifts, and the largest selection of California Indian books just about anywhere!

It is the mission of the California Indian Heritage Center Foundation

to procure funding in support of the interpretive and educational programs and projects of the State Indian Museum. Further, it is dedicated to the planning, support, and development of the future California Indian Heritage Center, a multi-faceted facility that will house cultural items and provide interpretive programming, meeting space for Native communities, and gathering areas for community use.